BOARDMAN, Ohio - It seems like deer are everywhere this time of year and within seconds, they can pose a traffic hazard when you least expect it.

So do deer crossing signs help and what determines where these deer crossing signs are placed and if they are effective?

We often catch a glimpse of deer galloping across the road in a split second as they come out of the woods in search of food, or are on the run during the mating season.

But just because you see a deer crossing your street, does that mean a warning sign is warranted?

Mahoning County Engineer Pat Ginnetti says, "It's impossible to predict where they're going to come out, where they're going to cross, and if an accident might occur."

A Mahoning County resident who lives near Shields Road and Lockwood Boulevard -- says there have been three deer hit by cars and asked if a deer sign could be posted in the area.  

But Mahoning County's Engineer says the rules do not mandate it.

"It's not a burden on us, it's not very costly to put additional signs up, as the manual mentions. The more signs we put up, drivers become numb almost to the signs and ignore a lot of them because there can be too many signs and it could cause other issues," Ginnetti said.

But while the county engineer says they're not mandated to put up signs like this in their neighborhood it has paid off.

"Listen you have to go slow because the deer are getting so domesticated and they just walk real slow and they don't run anymore like they used to," that's according to Mike Butch, a homeowner on Bears Den Road.

Butch said he called the Youngstown Parks Department in the city of Youngstown and asked for a sign when he noticed a number of deer crossing the street to come and eat acorns in his yard.